The plane was brand new and luxurious.
Even Su Ning's subordinates, who were used to seeing big sights, couldn't help but gasp when they boarded for inspection. They spoke in hushed tones.
"Is this a new plane?"
"Definitely. Look, not even a scratch. There's still protective film on this table. In my dreams, I only ever imagined flying first class. I never thought the young lady would just go and buy private jets—and more than one!"
This was Su Ning's private seating area.
Next to it, slightly smaller, was where they sat.
As they passed by and glanced over, the decor wasn't as lavish, but everything was equally spotless and new.
"When did she buy these planes? We're with her every day and didn't have a clue..."
"Shh. Just do your job and stop prying. Careless talk can lead to trouble. Honestly, I think following the young lady is the best luck our ancestors could have given us. Asking them for another round would be pushing it. I'm not about to wear them out, and don't you dare drag me into your nonsense, or I'll have my ancestors pay you a visit at midnight!"
This drew a few low chuckles.
Even as they talked, their inspection remained thorough.
They searched every inch meticulously.
Still, thanks to the large team and their experience, they didn't keep Su Ning waiting long.
To outsiders, this caution perfectly matched Su Ning's usual style. No matter how arrogant or domineering she appeared, she was always self-aware of her villainy—
Never putting herself in harm's way.
But the system, however, saw things differently. Facing its protests, Su Ning said matter-of-factly:
"I know this plane was exchanged from the mall, but you also said these items don't appear out of thin air. Who knows what happened to it before it reached me? What if someone trying to get back at an enemy planted a bomb, and I just happened to be the unlucky one?"
The system: ...
That's stretching it too far.
Yet it couldn't argue—though the odds were slim, it was technically possible. After sulking for a while, it finally blurted out:
"You're so afraid of dying, so why are you running off to Nanyang? That's Huo Xiang's territory."
"No risk, no reward."
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never be defeated. Right now, many of her assumptions about Huo Xiang were just guesses. And since guesses might be wrong,
she had to go see for herself.
This, too, was a form of caution.
Just the version that Su Ning defined. She sneered contemptuously:
"Besides, Huo Xiang isn't all that powerful in Nanyang. He mostly rides on the Huo family's influence. In the original story, old Master Huo doesn't exactly treat this fake grandson kindly."
"Not kindly" was an understatement.
To draw a comparison: imagine a powerful, childless emperor forced to adopt a child. He watched the boy grow up, and the kid was talented, so there was some affection.
But at the thought of handing over his empire? A bitter reluctance clawed at him.
He'd nitpick, find faults, vent his frustrations for no reason.
And on top of that, old Master Huo did have a real grandson out there. Whether alive or dead wasn't certain, but having that possibility or not—well, it made all the difference.
It only soured his mood further.
You could tell from the name "Huo Xiang" itself. He was nothing more than a placeholder. If the real grandson ever turned up, he'd be expected to step aside. That's why, even though old Master Huo had outwardly handed over power, he was still the one truly calling the shots.
This persona was very despicable, very villainous, very malicious.
But it suited Su Ning just fine.
Villains were good.
Villains were wonderful.
Villains were absolutely top-notch.
Su Ning liked dealing with villains. Thinking this, she jabbed at the system again, "Hey, system, since you've upgraded, how come you don't even have a search function? If we could find the real 'prince' and just present him to Old Master Huo, I wouldn't have to work so hard."
The system: ...
Outraged, "Do you think I don't want to?! But with no clues at all—just male, about twenty-something, possibly dead, possibly alive—do you have any idea how many people worldwide fit that description?"
"How am I supposed to find him like this!"
Su Ning argued in her defense, "That's exactly why I'm here in Nanyang to find clues for you. Now you can filter first, and then if we get any leads, you can start searching directly—that saves effort, right?"
"Besides, a system as awesome as you must have great luck. Maybe you'll stumble on the right person just a few searches in."
The system was soothed.
It agreed.
Su Ning didn’t hold out much hope, really—it was just throwing out a line to see if anything bit.
… …
The plane arrived in Nanyang.
Understandably, it landed at the local airport by permission. This area wasn’t exactly developed to begin with, and while the plane wasn’t falling apart, it wasn’t much to look at either.
Compared to Su Ning’s private jet, the contrast was stark.
It naturally drew many curious looks.
Even Huo Xiang’s group glanced over. In the sunlight, the plane’s body gleamed with a fresh metallic luster, cold and somehow exuding an unattainable air.
"What a beautiful plane," murmured a svelte, fashionably dressed woman beside him.
She suddenly bit her lip, her eyes lighting up as she said,
"A plane this nice must be safer and more comfortable, also cleaner. Sir, why don’t you switch to this flight? It won’t delay anything much, and the airport wouldn’t dare refuse the Huo family’s request."
Huo Xiang thought it was a decent idea.
He wasn’t unwilling to endure hardships, but if conditions permitted, he preferred not to suffer needlessly.
He sent a servant to negotiate, then leaned down and fondly pinched the woman’s nose:
"Whatever you say, alright? I’ll head out soon and be back quickly. You stay home and behave—I’ll bring you a gift."
"Will I be the only one getting one?"
Huo Xiang pretended to hesitate for a few seconds, then nodded.
The woman revealed a lovely, delicate smile.
She kissed him.
"You’re so good, sir."
Feeling the increase in Qi points, Huo Xiang smiled too, his gaze toward her even more doting. Concubine Zhuo’s heart trembled with joy—her husband grew more affectionate day by day, pushing all those other scheming women aside.
Maybe, just maybe, she could be promoted to the main wife one day.
At that thought, she grew bolder:
"You’ll be gone for so many days—I’ll miss you. Can’t you just stay and let the servants handle things?"
But that wasn’t possible.
This "opportunity" was great, but it came with conditions—only he himself could gain Qi points by earning the favor of those with Qi.
It wasn’t something anyone else could do.
After his last setback, he had to swallow his pride, earnestly plead with his foster mother to dispel his foster father’s idea… and on top of that, his remaining Qi points were all used up.
The people with Qi around him now—
they just weren’t enough anymore.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but think of the woman who had harmed him—Su Ning. Huo Xiang’s mood turned foul, and his voice grew cold:
“What nonsense are you up to? Of course I’m going out for important business.”
Concubine Zhuo was startled.
“I was wrong, don’t be angry…” she said, her eyes brimming with tears as she carefully watched Huo Xiang’s expression, blaming herself for losing her head. After a while, she saw the man’s face soften. He raised his hand and wiped her tears with his thumb:
“Be good. Listen well.”
“Mm.”
With even more fortune points in hand than before, Huo Xiang’s smile deepened. Women were all the same—treat them too well, and they’d get above themselves.
Sometimes you had to play cold, act fierce.
He suddenly thought of Su Ning, too—also a woman. A smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. Maybe killing her would be a waste. With such fortune in hand, making her madly devoted to him, bearing his children and raising a family, wasn’t a bad idea.
And that dowry of hers was quite tempting.
Why hadn’t he thought of this before?
Huo Xiang mused ruefully as he idly stroked Concubine Zhuo’s smooth cheek. She snuggled obediently against her husband, feeling blissful.
The mood was harmonious and intimate.
Just then, the servant sent to negotiate hurried over with a troubled look.
“Master, it didn’t work out.”
“What?”
Concubine Zhuo snapped, “How did you manage such a simple errand? Did you mention that it was the Huo family wanting to board that plane? That the master wanted to fly should have been their honor—how dare they snub us?”
Huo Xiang beside her said nothing, but he didn’t stop her, either.
Here in the Nanyang region,
the Huo family was a shining golden name.
“I… I did say it,” the servant stammered, his face pale and head bowed, his voice trembling.
“But they said it’s a private plane. What’s the Huo family got to do with it? If they don’t have the money to buy one, they shouldn’t put on airs.”
Awkward silence.
Huo Xiang’s face turned from pale to red, then to white.
He pushed the woman in his arms aside and walked off, leaving Concubine Zhuo with her mouth hanging open. Only after he was far away did she stomp her foot in frustration.
“How was I supposed to know it was a private plane!”
